Transparent package

ABSTRACT

A package device is vacuum formed from a thermoplastic sheet and includes at least three self-hinged outwardly open sector shaped sections closed to form a polyhedral body with the section side walls in juxtaposition and the end sections being joined by fastening means. Cavity delineating inner walls are formed in the inner parts of the sections and join the side walls. The sections may include end walls which delineate the cavity end walls or the inner walls may include cavity end walls joined to the section side and end walls which latter may be curved. Vertical ribs or protuberances may be formed on the end walls or on intermediate shoulders on the cavity walls and outwardly projecting ribs may be formed on vertically extending cavity walls.

C United States Patent 1 1 3,659,705

- Falkin May 2, 1972 54] TRANSPARENT PACKAGE 2,993,587 7/1961 Stone eta1. ..206/45. 19 Inventor: Abraham J- Falkin, 33 RemSen Street,3,587,838 3/1969 Miyata ..206/46 FR Valley Stream 1 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS [221 Filed 1970 755,722 8/1956 Great Britain ..229/39 B 211Appl. No.: 50,486

Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Related US. Application Data AttrneyStanley Welder [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 826,573, May 21,

1969, abandoned. [57] ABSTRACT A package device is vacuum formed from athermoplastic [52] U.S.Cl. ..206/45.34, 206/46 FR, 206/65, Sheet andinciudes a |eat three seiphinged outwardly open 229/25, 229/1 C sectorshaped sections closed to form a polyhedral body with [51] Int. Cl...B65d 5/58,B65d 85/30 h section Side walls in juxtaposition and the endSections [58] Flflld of Search ..206/45.34, 45.19, 45.14, 65 R; beingjoined y fastening means Cavity delineating inner 229/39 220/60 wallsare formed in the inner parts of the sections and join the side walls.The sections may include end walls which delineate [56] References Citedthe cavity end walls or the inner walls may include cavity end UNITEDSTATES PATENTS walls joined to the section side and end walls whichlatter may be curved. Vertical ribs or protuberances may be formed on2,8l Sloane R the end walls or on intermediate shoulders on the cavitywalls 3,164,473 H1965 BOSU'Om and outwardly projecting ribs may beformed on vertically ex- 2,803,865 8/1957 El anian et al ..220/60 Rtending cavity wall, 2,908,382 10/1959 Turner ..220/60 R 2,908,38310/1959 Vogt ..206/65 R 18 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures 5e -2 4 .4 48-2 4O3 -2 -3 .4 P-- 1 0- 1 50-1 r 4 34 il' 4 1 PATENTEDMAY 2 I972 SHEET 1 CFI 7. ILJ

TO VACUUM SYSTEM INVENTOR. Abraham Falkin ATTORNEY PATENTEDMAY 2 I972 3,659 705 SHEET 2 or s HF MW es sqev PATENTEDMAY 2 I972 SHEET 3 BF 5 HHHm1 FIG 10 'wmm w Q J w. w m H i B N .n (x... q W a 5:

FIG.I3

PATENTEDMM 2 I972 SHEET 4 (IF 5 INVENTOR Abraham J. Folkm BY f z t iATTORNEY PATENTEUMY 2 I972 SHEET 5 OF 5 FIG.16

TRANSPARENT PACKAGE REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS The present patentapplication is a continuation-in-part of copending patent applicationSer. No. 826,573 filed May 21, 1969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally toimprovements in receptacles and it relates particularly to an improvedpackage for housing, protecting and displaying an article such as aproduct containing bottle or the like.

In the merchandising of many products as typified by bottled productssuch as perfumes, liquors, cosmetics and the like, the bottled productshould be packaged in a manner which will protect it from damage,facilitate its storage, distribution, vending and display and present ahighly attractive appearance. Many forms of packages have been employedand proposed in the packaging and display of fragile articles but thesehave possessed numerous drawbacks and disadvantages. These packages havegenerally been expensive and of little versatility and adaptability andrepresent a compromise among the desired characteristics, beingdeficient in one or more of these characteristics. Moreover, the diesand equipment required to produce and apply the packages are complex andexpensive and their use often necessitates the employment of skilledlabor and is highly time consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide an improved receptacle and a method of producingthe same.

Another object of present invention is to provide an improved receptaclefor protectively housing an article.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedarticle housing and display receptacle which may be vacuum formed fromthermoplastic sheets.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedreceptacle of the above nature characterized by its versatility,adaptability, reliability, low cost, attractive appearance and ease ofproduction and application.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transparent displaycontainer, with or without color, and a method of forming it by thevacuum forming technique, that will have a predesigned shape to provideshock protection to the packaged item such as a bottle, for example, andthat will provide the display container in polyhedral configuration withmany panels of the polyhedral figure arranged to transmit and refractlight that passes through the container in such manner that the lightwill enhance the appearance of the article supported within thetransparent display container and establish a particularly esthetic auraabout the object supported within the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display container thatmay be easily and economically manufactured, and that may then be easilymanipulated to enclose and support the commercial article intended to besupported thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display container whichmay be easily and readily manipulated to accept an article ofmerchandise, that is to be displayed therein, and then closed toconstitute a closed package for the article, to serve both for packagingand for display purposes, with suitable means provided to be integrallyformed in the display container to enable the container to be readilyclosed, and held closed, while at the same time permitting the containerto be opened, when it is so desired, in order to provide access to thearticle therein.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferredembodiments thereof.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of areceptacle having a product housing cavity and integrally formed of aunitary sheet of thermoplastic resin comprising a plurality of sectionshaving adjacent side edges joined by self hinges and including endsections with free outer edges each of said sections including top andbottom end walls and inwardly converging angularly related side walls,the side walls of successive adjacent sections being in juxtapositionand said sections interfitting to form a peripherally closed bodymember, a plurality of said sections having inner walls joining therespective side walls and outwardly offset from the innermost edgesthereof and delineating said product housing cavity.

The closed body member is advantageously of polyhedral configuration andfastener elements are integrally formed with the end sections and mayinclude mating plug and socket members which may be provided withenlarged heads and reduced throats respectively. The top and bottom ofthe product housing cavity may be defined by the section end walls whichmay interfit to form completely closed walls or walls having medialopenings. In the alternative, the inner walls may include top and bottomhorizontally extending end walls which are connected to the section sidewalls and either directly or indirectly to the section end walls, thecavity end walls being either completely closed or partially open. Thesection end walls may be horizontally or inwardly inclined andpreferably curved to minimize undesirable reflections. The cavity wallsmay be ribbed for reinforcing and the cavity defining walls may includetransversely offset vertically extending sections connected byhorizontally extending shoulder defining sections and the shoulders aswell as the other cavity walls may be provided with inwardly directedcushioning protuberances.

The improved receptacle is inexpensive, easy to apply to a product,highly protective and reliable, versatile and adaptable, inexpensive andof highly attractive appearance. It is advantageously produced by vacuumor pressure forming molding techniques and hence requires only simpleand inexpensive equipment for its fabrication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a sheetof material disposed on a vacuum forming die or mold to form theappropriate panels for one form of a polyhedral figure;

FIG. 2 is a stepped sectional view looking inward from one side of themold and sheet in FIG. 1, and taken along the dotand-dash line 2-2 inFIG. 1, in order to show the manner of formation of different levels ofthe respective panels of the polyhedral figure in the several loadingregions of the vacuum forming mold of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the polyhedral figure fon'ned fromthe sheet as vacuum formed in FIG. 1, and is shown in inverted positionin order to show better an inwardly curved bottom flange of each panel;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the right hand end panel takenalong the dot-and-dash line 44 in FIG. 1, to show the pocket formationas well as the curved bottom flange referred to in the upturned figureof FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the sheet formed in FIG. 1, to show thedisposition and formation of end flanges on the four panels that willfit together to form a relatively closed top, when the four panels arefitted together and closed to form the polyhedral figure;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the the sheet in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the figure of FIG. 6 as formed upon closure ofthe open figure shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of another modification of apolyhedral figure having a three-panel arrangement with a pocket shownformed in the bottom half of each panel and with one panel shown formedwith a land or area near the top of that panel for inscription ofsuitable indicia such as trade marks or esthetic scrolls or the like;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the figure shown in FIG. 8 and illustrates thepocket formation of one of the locking snaps in position to hold thepolyhedral figure closed;

polyhedral figure of FIG. is a front elevational view of still anothermodification showing a four-sided polyhedral figure, and illustrates theprovision of selected designs in one or more surfaces or panels of thefigure, as well as reinforcing rib or channel formations in certain ofthe panels;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the polyhedral figure shown inFIG. 10 and illustrates the reinforcing channel structures in the twoend walls to maintain the polyhedral figure rigidly positioned, againstany normal tendency to warp due to the differentials in dimensionsbetween the side panels and the front and back panels;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the polyhedral figure shown in FIG. 10, andillustrates the manner in which the several panels of the figure are putinto appropriate position to form the closed box figure, with suitableend flanges formed to provide a closed bottom, relatively planar, forthe finished polyhedral figure; and

FIG. 13 is a development of the modification shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and12 to show the appearance of the original sheet when vacuum formed intoconfiguration that will enable the panels to be placed intojuxtaposition to form the polyhedral figure shown in FIGS. 10, 1 I and12;

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention illustrated in an assembled condition;

FIG. 15 is an inside plan view of a section of the structure shown inFIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified bottom sectionof the structure of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of another embodimentof the present invention; and

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a furthermodification which may be applied to the other embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. I is shown generally anarrangement for forming a sheet of transparent material 20 for assemblyas a transparent container according to the invention. The sheet 20 ofplastic material, such as a polyvinyl chloride product, or acetate, orthe like, which is transparent, and clear, or colored, is first warmedto a temperature at which it is still self-supporting, in order that itmay be easily and readily deformed by normal air pressure. The warmsheet 20 is then placed on a vacuum shaping mold 22 and suitably heldalong its border edges at the mold border edges 28 so that only acentral area and certain portions of the softened plastic sheet will befree to move and be deformed and shaped and positioned in response tonormal top surface air pressure when the air in the mold chamber underthe sheet is evacuated.

The mold 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is pre-designed and shaped to providefor the shaping of a single sheet of material into a form that willpermit the modified sheet 20 to be folded and formed into the polyhedralfigure 30 shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7.

As will be seen upon reference to FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, the polyhedralstructure 30 is shaped to provide the support for, and to enclose, asmall bottle having a cube-shaped hollow body and a cylindrical neck,the body to be received in a pocket 32 of cubic shape with a coaxiallyrelated circular compartment 34 to receive the cylindrical neck of thebottle. To form the cubic space 32, four co-fitting cavities areprovided, one in each of the four panels formed in the sheet 20. Asshown in FIG. 1, the sheet 20 will be formed into four vshaped panels40-1, 40-2, 40-3, and 40-4, and in each panel a square channel will beformed, identified in FIG. 1 as channels 42-1, 42-2, 42-3 42-4,respectively. FIG. 4 shows one of those channel 42-4. Each channel istransverse to the apex of the -v-. These four channels 42-1 to 42-4 aredisposed in their respective panels so they will fit together in thefinally assembled polyhedral 30 to constitute the cubic space 32 for thebody of the bottle. When so fitted together, the four -v-s or apexes ofthe four panels substantially engage along the longitudinal axis of thepolyheclren.

In similar manner an arcuate quarter-circle recess 44-1, 44-2, 44-3 and44-4, respectively, is formed in each of the four panels 40-1 through40-4, respectively, recess 44-1 not being seen in FIG. 1, due to sheet20 being torn away. Those four quarter-circular recesses 44-1 through44-4, respectively, when combined by the folding and closure of theformed sheet into the polyhedral form shown in FIG. 3, serve toconstitute the circular or cylindrical pocket 34 as seen in FIG. 3.

In order that the polyhedral structure in FIG. 3 may constitute arelatively closed structure, with top and bottom surfaces relativelyclosed, each of the panels 40-1 through 40-4, is provided with atriangular top flange 46-1, 46-2, 46-3 and 46-4, respectively, fittingbetween the top end edges of the V- shaped panels to the apex of the-v-. The upper triangular flange 46-1 is not visible in FIG. 1 sincethat portion of the sheet 20 is shown as tom away. However, the moldsurface 46-1M is identified and visible as a surface against which thatcorresponding upper flange of the first panel will be formed in thevacuum fon'ning process. In similar manner, a portion of the upperflange 46-2 is shown with a portion of the corresponding surface of themold 46-2M visible where the sheet is shown torn away. The upper flanges46-3 and 46-4 are shown on their respective v-shaped panels 40-3 and40-4.

In order to provide an additional esthetic feature in the polyhedron ofFIG. 3, each panel, 40-1 to 40-4, is provided with an inwardly andupwardly flaring bottom flange, identified in FIG. 1, as 48-1 through48-4, respectively. In FIG. 3, these bottom flaring flanges 48-1 to 484are visible at the top of the polyhedron FIG. 30, which is showninverted in FIG. 3 for this purpose. These flaring bottom flanges alsoextend between the two sides of the v-shaped panel and a point on theapex of the -v-.

In order to permit each panel of the polyhedron to be folded or turnedangularly with respect to each adjacent panel to form the polyhedralFigure in FIG. 3, narrow hinge elements 50-1, and 50-2 and 50-3 areformed, as shown in more detail in FIGS. 1 and 2, to be availablebetween the panels 40-1, 40-2, 40-3 and 40-4, respectively, so theseseveral panels can be easily turned about these hinged elements inappropriate position to close the polyhedron. As may be seen in FIG. 2,these hinged elements 50-1, 50-2 and 50-3 are formed on supporting wallribs 52-], 52-2 and 52-3, in the vacuum forming mold 23, between theadjacent side walls defining the cavities into which the sheet is to bedrawn to form the respective panels. For example, hinge 50-1 is formedat the top of the rib 52-1 between side wall 54-l-b for the first panelcavity and side wall 54-2-11 for the second panel cavity. In similarmanner, the hinges 50-2 and 50-3 are formed along the associated ribs52-2 and 52-3 shown in FIG. 2 and indicated in FIG. 1.

At the two opposite ends of the vacuum forming mold 26, the mold isprovided with two pins 60 and 62 to permit the formation of two cavitiesor hollow bosses 60-A and 62-A, in panel 40-1, to receive with a snapfit two appropriately formed bosses 64 and 66, as formed on panel 40-4at the other end of the sheet. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mold 26 isprovided at its right-hand end, with two small cavities and 70, shownvented, to receive the sheet material to form the two hollow bosses 64and 66 for respectively fitting into one of two hollow bosses 60-A and62-A fonned on the first panel 40-1 by formation on the pins 60 and 62in the mold. As seen in FIG. 2, the boss 62-A is shown formed on theleft-hand section of panel 40-1. That boss 62-A serves as a hollowsnapfastening element to receive the bead formed on panel 40-4 at theother end of the mold. Similarly, head 68 snap fits into boss 60.

In order to impart a certain amount of rigidity to the panels alongtheir edges, for a stable polyhedron as a supporting box, it isdesirable to provide narrow edge flanges along the border edges of thepanels, as indicated to a slight degree by the flanges 70 along theedges of the narrow sides of the panels in FIG. 3. Those flanges may beprovided for by an appropriately shaped border plate for initiallypressing the edges of the sheet around the rim of the mold to form thoseedge flanges before the mold is subjected to the vacuum operation. Theconnection to the vacuum system for the mold is indicated by the pipe 75in FIG. 2 which communicates with the wall of the mold 26. The walls ofthe mold are provided with suitable vent holes to permit the vacuumaction to be effective.

FIG. 4, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, shows one side face 76 ofthe v-shaped panel 40-4, and shows the channel 42-4 transverse of the-vor apex line 78; and also shows the arcuate recess 44-4, whichco-operates with the other arcuate recesses to define the cylindricalspace for the bottle neck.

FIG. 6 shows a front elevational view of the polyhedron 30 of FIG. 3,closed and standing in upright position. The total cavity 32, 34 isshown for receiving a correspondingly shaped bottle.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the polyhedron, and shows how the polyhedronis held closed by the bead elements 68 and 70 in the snaps 60A and 62A.

FIG. 7 also shows how each panel is shaped as a v-shaped panel with twoside faces 40-A and 40B, perpendicular to each other, and with the -vorapex line 40-V positioned along the axis of the polyhedron. The topflanges joining those two side faces of each panel, are also shown, andidentified as 46-1 through 46-4.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another modification, of a display container 80, as athree-panel polyhedron. This container 80 shows a three-section cavity82 to accommodate a bottle. The three panels are v-shaped with aninternal angle of 120, so the apex lines of the three panels willposition themselves substantially along the axis 84 when the sheet isfolded to closed form, as in FIGS. 8 and 9. The top flanges 85, 86 and87, and similar bottom flanges, are appropriately dimensioned to fitbetween the end edges of the related side faces of each panel. In FIG.8, the front panel shows a frame area 89 which may be formed andprovided to carry a design, or a message, such as a trademark or slogan.

In the modification of FIGS. 8 and 9, the cavity for the body of thebottle bears a relation to the shape of the bottle body. For example,since the bottle body has six side faces, the three-panel containerprovides for symmetry in the pocket 82 in the three panels. Thus, eachpanel is shaped to embody a recess with two sides to accommodate twosides of the bottle body, and with appropriate space in the recess toaccommodate one-third of the volume of the bottle body.

FIGS. to 13 show still another modification 90 of a display container ofthis invention. In this case the front and rear panels 91 and 92 have acentral face 91A and 92A, and two side faces 91B and 91C, and 92B and92C, with the two side faces mitered to the central face in each panel.Each central panel 91A and 92A is formed to embody a rectangular cavity91D and 92D, which jointly provide a pocket 93 to accommodate anintended bottle of a corresponding size, as indicated in FIG. 10, 11 and12. Above the pocket 93, in FIG. 10, a design 9A is shown as a furtherillustration of the esthetic touches that may be added to the displaypackage of this invention.

The two side panels 95 and 96 are shown provided with strengtheningchannel ribs, 95A and 95B, and 96A and 968, formed as channelstransverse to the -vline or apex line 95-V or 96-V of each of the panels95 and 96. The two side faces 95-1 and 95-2 of the side panels 95 arerespectively mitered to the related side faces 91B and 928. Similar sidefaces 96-1 and 96-2 are mitered to the side faces 91C and 92C of thefront and back panels 91 and 92.

FIG. 13 shows an end elevational view of the formed sheet structure ofthe polyhedron 90, and shows the end snap elements 99A and 99B lockingthe structure 90 closed.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and of the drawings which illustrate anotherembodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 100 generallydesignates the improved receptacle which is shown by way of example, ashousing and displaying a whiskey bottle 101. The receptacle 100, as inthe first described embodiment, comprises four sections 102 initiallyvacuum formed in side by side relationship and connected by self hingesfrom a relatively still thermoplastic sheet, for example, polyvinylchloride, saran, or other suitable advantageously, but not neccessarilytransparent polymeric resins. The opposite end sections are provided onthe outer side walls thereof with mating plug and socket connectorshaving enlarged heads and restricted throats respectively and being inmutual engagement when the sections 102 are in a closed conditionenclosing bottle 101, as shown in FIG. 14.

Each of the receptacle sections 102 is of generally prismatic shape,open at the outer base thereof and including side walls 103 symetricallyconverging inwardly at a dihedral angle of and substantially similarlyshaped top and bottom end walls 104 and 106, respectively, which areapproximately right angle triangles with the inner opposite apices of apair of upper and a pair of lower end walls being frustrated. The endwalls 104 and 106 of the closed receptacle interfit to form closed endwalls of the receptacle bottle housing cavity. Transversely spacedparallel ribs and channels 107 are formed in each end wall 104 and 106perpendicular to the respective outer edges thereof to reinforce the endwalls 104 and 106 and the resulting cavity end walls. The end walls 104and 106 may be generally fiat or may be stepped to provide respectivelydownwardly and upwardly offset shoulders 104a and 106a.

Formed in the inner apex of each receptacle section 102 is an inner wall108 which joins along its side edges, sidewalls 103 which arecorrespondingly cut out, and extends to end walls 104 and 106, the wall108 being shaped to substantially mate a corresponding quarter sectionof the surface of the bottle 101 so that when the sections 102 arelocked in a peripherally closed condition the walls 108 delineate acavity which substantially mates and houses the bottle 101.

In order to transversely or laterally reinforce the bottle housingreceptacle 100, a plurality of horizontal relatively deep channel shapedribs, in the illustrated embodiment upper, lower and intermediate ribs109, 110 and Ill respectively are formed in each section 112 and avertically spaced parallel lower web 113 which extend from the innerwall 108 and delineate a corresponding transverse opening 114 therein.The side edges of webs 112 and 113 join section side walls 103 andextend to points short of the outer edges of side walls 103. The outeredges of rib webs 112 and 113 are joined by a vertical web 116 which maybe decorated or bear any desirable information which may be embossedtherein, such as during the vacuum forming of sections 102, printed orotherwise applied thereto. It should be noted that the variousdimensions of the different ribs may vary and that the webs 112 and 113need not be parallel. A relatively high rib 105, corresponding to ribs109, 110 and 111 is located above rib 109 and is delineated by curvedtop and bottom webs 105a and 105b joined by an outer vertical panelI050.

The assembly and use of the receptacle 100 is clear from the above.

In FIG. 16 of the drawings there is illustrated an end wall structurewhich may be substituted for that shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 and differstherefrom in that the end walls of the interfitting receptacle sections,particularly the bottom end walls, do not form a composite imperforatewall but provide a central opening. Specifically, each of the sections117 which interfit to form the receptacle includes converging side walls118 which terminate at their bottoms in end walls 119 having inwardlyextending parallel ribs 120 formed therein. Each of the end walls 1 19is of similar trapezoidal shape which may be stepped, as illustrated, orflat so that the end walls 119 in the locked closed receptacle form aproduct cavity base having a rectangular medial opening. In all otherrespects the receptacle is similar to that shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

As illustrated by the structure shown in FIG. 17 the product housed bythe improved receptacle may be provided with one or more downwardlyfacing peripheral shoulders which rest on complementing shoulders formedin the receptacle cavity to support the product above the cavity orreceptacle bottom wall. For example, the housed product may be a bottle121 or other container including a stopper enlarged upper section 122having a downwardly facing peripheral shoulder 127, a main body orenlarged lower section 123 and a throat or interconnecting intermediatesection 126 or reduced transverse cross section delineated from uppersection 122 by a peripheral lip or shoulder 128 formed on intermediatesection 126 and located below shoulder 127 and including a downwardlyfacing shoulder.

The receptacle 129 for housing bottle 121 is of generally similarconstruction to those earlier described and comprises cavity delineatinginner wall defined by the inner walls of the sections which are closedto form the receptacle. The product housing cavity wall includes anenlarged upper section 130, surrounding stopper 122 above shoulder 127,an upper intermediate section 132 which surrounds the lower part ofstopper 122 as well as the flange 128 and is delineated from wall uppersection 130 by a peripheral shoulder 133 which may engage the bottlestopper shoulder 127; a lower intermediate section 134 surrounding thatsection of bottle intermediate section 126 below flange 128 anddelineated from wall section 132 by a peripheral shoulder 136 whichengages the bottom face of flange 128; and an enlarged main lowersection 137 which surrounds the bottle body section 123. The distancebetween the bottom of bottle flange 128 and the bottom of bottle bodysection 123 may be equal to or less than that between shoulder 136 andupper face of the cavity base wall or shoulder [38, in the latter case,the bottle 121 is supported above the base of the bottle housing cavityso as to relieve the bottom of vertical impact by the bottle.

In order to further reduce impact or shock transmittal between thereceptacle and the housed product, those areas of the receptacle whichsupport the product may be provided with upwardly or inwardly directedcushioning elements. Thus, as shown in FIG. 18 the receptacle 139includes a stepped cavity delineating wall provided with upper,intermediate and lower sections 140, 141 and 142 respectively ofsuccessively smaller transverse cross section, upper and intermediatesections 140 and 141 being separated by a peripheral shoulder 143 andintermediate and lower sections 141 and 142 being separated by aperipheral shoulder 144. A plurality of peripherally spaced, upwardlyprojecting, resilient cushioning protuberances or bosses 146 areintegrally formed with shoulder 142 and the shoulder 144 is of undulateshape to provide peripherally spaced radially extending upwardlydirected, convex resilient cushioning ridges 147. The product which ishoused in the receptacle 139 includes shoulders which rest onprotuberances M6 and ribs 147 contribute to the cushioning of theproduct against impact stresses.

The construction shown lends itself to hermetic sealing. The adjacentpanels, surfaces and flanges may readily be pressed to engagement alongadjacent parallel lines, and heat sealed along those lines, after thepackage container has been filled and closed to position to be held bythe gripping beads.

The package may also be utilized for materials to be sterilized, withoutemploying autoclaving operations. Suitable packaging material may beemployed to permit sterilization by appropriate ray energy, or byultrasonics, with minimum production of heat and temperature rise in thepackaged items.

Thus it is evident that the invention may be utilized to form packagesand display items, for bottles of any shape or size, or for jewelry, orfor valuable electronic parts, medical equipment or the like, fromclear, opaque or colored sheets, with esthetic designs or markings, frompolyvinyl chlorides, acetates, butyrates, propanates, styrenes, or anythermalforming sheet plastic. Obviously, variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, while plug and socket types of fasteners are provided forholding the sections in a receptacle closed condition with thesuccessive suction side faces in juxtaposition, other fastening meansmay be employed such as foldover taps and buttons, snaps, interlockingdie cut slits, tongue and groove splines, bar snaps or the like andhermetic lock seals may be efi'ected in many manners such as bydielectric or direct heating, or ultrasonic bending. Moreover,reinforcing ribs and shock absorbing protuberances and projections maybe formed in difierent areas depending on the configuration of thepackaged product and the desired end result.

What is claimed is:

1. A receptacle having a product housing cavity and integrallythermofonned of a unitary sheet of thermoplastic resin comprising atleast three sections having adjacent side edges joined by self hingesand including end sections with free outer edges, each of said sectionsincluding top and bot tom end walls and inwardly converging angularlyrelated side walls, the side walls of successive adjacent sections beingin juxtaposition and said sections interfitting to form a peripherallyclosed body member, a plurality of said sections having inner wallsjoining the respective side walls and outwardly offset from the innermost edges thereof and delineating said product housing cavity andcooperating fastening means at said end sections within the periphery ofsaid side walls for connecting said end sections with the respectiveouter side walls thereof in substantial juxtaposition.

2. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein said body member is ofsubstantially polyhedral configuration.

3. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises asocket member formed in one of said outer side walls and a plug formedin the other of said outer side walls and engaging said socket with saidouter side walls in juxtaposition.

4. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein each of said cavities wallsincludes a horizontally extending section proximate an end thereofbetween corresponding side walls.

5. A receptacle having a product housing cavity including an upwardlyfacing horizontal product supporting surface and integrallytherrnoformed of a unitary sheet of thermoplastic resin comprising atleast three sections having adjacent side edges joined by self hingesand including end sections with free outer edges, each of said sectionsincluding top and bottom end walls and inwardly converging angularlyrelated side walls, the side walls of successive adjacent sections beingin juxtaposition and said sections interfitting to form a peripherallyclosed body member, a plurality of said sections having cavity innerwalls joining the respective side walls and outwardly offset from theinner most edges thereof and a horizontal cavity wall joining said innerwalls and sidewalls and having a top face defining a product supportingsurface, said cavity walls delineating said product housing cavity.

6. The receptacle of claim 5 wherein said resin sheet is transparent andat least some of said end walls are inwardly inclined and curved.

7. The receptacle of claim 5 wherein said cavity delineating inner wallsinclude vertically extending upper walls, vertically extending lowerwalls and shoulder defining horizontally projecting walls and definingsaid horizontal walls extending between said upper and lower walls andadapted to engage a shoulder above the bottom of a housed article.

8. The receptacle of claim 7 wherein said shoulder defining wallprojects inwardly from said upper inner wall to said lower inner wall.

9. The receptacle of claim 8 including peripherally spaced upwardlyprojecting protuberances formed in said shoulder defining wall.

10. The receptacle of claim 5 wherein said cavity horizontal wall isinwardly vertically spaced from said end walls and defines the bottom ofsaid cavity.

11. The receptacle of claim 10 wherein said cavity bottom Walls convergeto form a substantially imperferate cavity base wall.

12. The receptacle of claim 11 including vertically extending wallsjoining the corresponding edges of said cavity bottom walls and saidsection bottom end walls.

13. The receptacle of claim 10 wherein said cavity bottom walls havetransversely spaced inner edges delineating a cavity base wall having amedial opening.

wall.

17. The receptacle of claim 15 wherein said bottom end walls havetransversely spaced inner edges delineating a cavity base wall having amedial opening.

18. The receptacle of claim 5 wherein said cavity delineating inner wallincludes a vertically extending section and comprising a pair ofvertically spaced panels projecting outwardly from said verticallyextending section and connected at their outer edges and separated alongtheir inner edges.

1. A receptacle having a product housing cavity and integrallythermoformed of a unitary sheet of thermoplastic resin comprising atleast three sections having adjacent side edges joined by self hingesand including end sections with free outer edges, each of said sectionsincluding top and bottom end walls and inwardly converging angularlyrelated side walls, the side walls of successive adjacent sections beingin juxtaposition and said sections interfitting to form a peripherallyclosed body member, a plurality of said sections having inner wallsjoining the respective side walls and outwardly offset from the innermost edges thereof and delineating said product housing cavity andcooperating fastening means at said end sections within the periphery ofsaid side walls for connecting said end sections with the respectiveouter side walls thereof in substantial juxtaposition.
 2. The receptacleof claim 1 wherein said body member is of substantially polyhedralconfiguration.
 3. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein said fastening meanscomprises a socket member formed in one of said outer side walls and aplug formed in the other of said outer side walls and engaging saidsocket with said outer side walls in juxtaposition.
 4. The receptacle ofclaim 1 wherein each of said cavities walls includes a horizontallyextending section proximate an end thereof between corresponding sidewalls.
 5. A receptacle having a product housing cavity including anupwardly facing horizontal product supporting surface and integrallythermoformed of a unitary sheet of thermoplastic resin comprising atleast three sections having adjacent side edges joined by self hingesand including end sections with free outer edges, each of said sectionsincluding top and bottom end walls and inwardly converging angularlyrelated side walls, the side walls of successive adjacent sections beingin juxtaposition and said sections interfitting to form a peripherallyclosed body member, a plurality of said sections having cavity innerwalls joining the respective side walls and outwardly offset from theinner most edges thereof and a horizontal cavity wall joining said innerwalls and sidewalls and having a top face defining a product supportingsurface, said cavity walls delineating said product housing cavity. 6.The receptacle of claim 5 wherein said resin sheet is transparent and atleast some of said end walls are inwardly inclined and curved.
 7. Thereceptacle of claim 5 wherein said cavity delineating inner wallsinclude vertically extending upper walls, vertically extending lowerwalls and shoulder defining horizontally projecting walls and definingsaid horizontal walls extending between said upper and lower walls andadapted to engage a shoulder above the bottom of a housed article. 8.The receptacle of claim 7 wherein said shoulder defining wall projectsinwardly from said upper inner wall to said lower inner wall.
 9. Thereceptacle of claim 8 including peripherally spaced upwardly projectingprotuberances formed in said shoulder defining wall.
 10. The receptacleof claim 5 wherein said cavity horizontal wall is inwardly verticallyspaced from said end walls and defines the bottom of said cavity. 11.The receptacle of claim 10 wherein said cavity bottom walls converge toform a substantially imperferate cavity base wall.
 12. The receptacle ofclaim 11 including vertically extending walls joining the correspondingedges of said cavity bottom walls and said section bottom end walls. 13.The receptacle of claim 10 wherein said cavity bottom walls havetransversely spaced inner edges delineating a cavity base wall having amedial opening.
 14. The receptacle of claim 10 including transverse endwalls positioned between the side walls of respective sections andvertically extending walls joining the edges of said cavity bottom wallsto corresponding edges of said section bottom end walls.
 15. Thereceptacle of claim 5 wherein said bottom end walls have verticallyprojecting inwardly extending integral ribs formed therein.
 16. Thereceptacle of claim 15 wherein said bottom end walls converge to form asubstantially imperferate cavity base wall.
 17. The receptacle of claim15 wherein said bottom end walls have transversely spaced inner edgesdelineating a cavity base wall having a medial opening.
 18. Thereceptacle of claim 5 wherein said cavity delineating inner wallincludes a vertically extending section and comprising a pair ofvertically spaced panels projecting outwardly from said verticallyextending section and connected at their outer edges and separated alongtheir inner edges.